Axalta’s Robert Roop Discusses Sustainability During 2024 ACS Keynote
By David Savastano, Contributing Editor | 04.26.24
Axalta’s SVP and CTO talks about the key trends and challenges ahead for the coatings industry, with an eye on what the next few years will bring.
This theme of the 2024 American Coatings Conference is “Innovations in Coatings Technology: Shaping Our Future.” This year’s keynote speaker, Dr. Robert Roop, senior vice president and chief technology officer at Axalta Coating Systems, is an ideal person to bring the theme to life.
Dr. Roop joined Axalta as its technology director, North America, after its spin-off from DuPont in 2013. He then headed to Germany to lead the Europe, Middle East & Africa technology team and has held global technology leadership positions for Axalta’s Refinish and Industrial businesses.
Prior to Axalta, Dr. Roop was with DuPont for more than 20 years, where he held positions in technology and operations positions, most notably DuPont Performance Coatings, where he was the leader of the global Light Vehicle technology team. All of this is to say that when it comes to coatings, Dr. Roop is at the forefront of technology.
Dr. Roop’s keynote address will examined the shift in coatings innovations from improved performance to improved sustainability, although the two both remain essential to customers.
“As I think about the challenges in front of us, there are at least six things we need to address,” Dr. Roop said, mentioning volatile organic compounds, recycled and bio-based raw materials, energy use, product life extension, hazardous materials and material consumption.
“The challenge becomes how to do all of this while our customers are demanding improved performance,” he added. “Our customers are demanding sustainability and improved performance.”
Dr. Roop then discussed each of the areas, beginning with strategies for VOC reduction in coatings, noting that there has been a conversion to waterborne technology, increased percent solids, powder technology and radiation cure technology. As for energy use, he pointed to the removal of baking requirements for coatings, which drives reduction in CO2 emissions.
Reducing or eliminating materials of concern, such as PFAS and heavy metals, is another area where coatings companies are focusing. Dr. Roop noted that the team at Axalta has been eliminating Cresol solvent from electrical wire enamel. With that, companies are looking to use bio-based materials, and have had success with formulating powder coatings with bio-based components.
The last two areas are product life extension and reduction in material use. As for product life extension, Dr. Roop pointed out that the current lifespan of automobiles is 12 years and 200,00 miles; by comparison in the 1970s, car owners could expect their vehicle to last six years and 100,000 miles.
Reduction in material use has undergone a similar transformation. In the past, 30% transfer efficiency was the norm. Today, as digital technologies gain more prominence, Dr. Roop sees a pathway to close to 100% transfer efficiency, particularly with digital printheads.
These trends should continue as we head into the coming years.
“I predict the next five years will accelerate these trends toward sustainability, with more waterborne technology, low temperature cure, less hazardous materials, increased recycled and bio-based content and higher transfer efficiency,” Dr. Roop concluded.
Dr. Roop joined Axalta as its technology director, North America, after its spin-off from DuPont in 2013. He then headed to Germany to lead the Europe, Middle East & Africa technology team and has held global technology leadership positions for Axalta’s Refinish and Industrial businesses.
Prior to Axalta, Dr. Roop was with DuPont for more than 20 years, where he held positions in technology and operations positions, most notably DuPont Performance Coatings, where he was the leader of the global Light Vehicle technology team. All of this is to say that when it comes to coatings, Dr. Roop is at the forefront of technology.
Dr. Roop’s keynote address will examined the shift in coatings innovations from improved performance to improved sustainability, although the two both remain essential to customers.
“As I think about the challenges in front of us, there are at least six things we need to address,” Dr. Roop said, mentioning volatile organic compounds, recycled and bio-based raw materials, energy use, product life extension, hazardous materials and material consumption.
“The challenge becomes how to do all of this while our customers are demanding improved performance,” he added. “Our customers are demanding sustainability and improved performance.”
Dr. Roop then discussed each of the areas, beginning with strategies for VOC reduction in coatings, noting that there has been a conversion to waterborne technology, increased percent solids, powder technology and radiation cure technology. As for energy use, he pointed to the removal of baking requirements for coatings, which drives reduction in CO2 emissions.
Reducing or eliminating materials of concern, such as PFAS and heavy metals, is another area where coatings companies are focusing. Dr. Roop noted that the team at Axalta has been eliminating Cresol solvent from electrical wire enamel. With that, companies are looking to use bio-based materials, and have had success with formulating powder coatings with bio-based components.
The last two areas are product life extension and reduction in material use. As for product life extension, Dr. Roop pointed out that the current lifespan of automobiles is 12 years and 200,00 miles; by comparison in the 1970s, car owners could expect their vehicle to last six years and 100,000 miles.
Reduction in material use has undergone a similar transformation. In the past, 30% transfer efficiency was the norm. Today, as digital technologies gain more prominence, Dr. Roop sees a pathway to close to 100% transfer efficiency, particularly with digital printheads.
These trends should continue as we head into the coming years.
“I predict the next five years will accelerate these trends toward sustainability, with more waterborne technology, low temperature cure, less hazardous materials, increased recycled and bio-based content and higher transfer efficiency,” Dr. Roop concluded.
